Executive Summary: Working with Tax Lawyers in Pakistan
What the service is
Advice, compliance and representation in federal and provincial tax matters: registration, returns, notices, audits, assessments, appeals and references, for individuals, firms and companies across Pakistan, coordinated from Karachi with our offices in other cities.
Who needs it
Businesses trading in several cities, service providers that must register with a provincial authority, individuals with notices or property transactions, overseas Pakistanis with Pakistani income, and companies facing audit or appeal.
Fee basis
We quote fees after the documents are reviewed. Advice on a single question, a full audit and an appeal before the Tribunal are priced separately, and you know the fee for each stage before work starts.
Time it usually takes
Registrations and simple returns can often be completed in days once documents are complete. Audits, appeals and references can take months and depend on hearings, so we give ranges rather than promises.
How to start
WhatsApp +92 333 1127830 with your notice, return or question and the city where you operate. We route the matter to the right office and reply on the same working day with a document list.
Advocate-led since 1985
Tax work is supervised by Mohsin Ali Shah, consulting lawyer and director of Taxocrate (Pvt) Limited, with Mohsin Mirani handling filings. Our network includes two Advocates of the Supreme Court for higher-court matters.
Federal and Provincial Taxes: Who Collects What
Knowing which authority has jurisdiction is the first question our Tax Lawyers in Pakistan answer, because filing with the wrong body does not discharge the obligation to the right one.
| Tax | Main law | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | Income Tax Ordinance 2001 | Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) |
| Sales tax on goods | Sales Tax Act 1990 | Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) |
| Federal excise duty | Federal Excise Act 2005 | Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) |
| Sales tax on services in Sindh | Sindh Sales Tax on Services Act 2011 | Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) |
| Sales tax on services in Punjab | Provincial law | Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) |
| Sales tax on services in Islamabad | Federal law for the Capital Territory | Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) |
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have their own revenue authorities for services. Property-related taxes and some duties are also provincial, and rates and thresholds change through annual Finance Acts.
Tax Lawyers in Pakistan: Our City Contacts
Each office handles matters in its own city and coordinates with the others when a client operates nationally. Call or WhatsApp the office closest to you, or message Karachi and we will pass your matter to the right team.
| City | Phone / WhatsApp | Typical matters |
|---|---|---|
| Karachi | +92 333 1127830 | FBR and SRB matters, appeals, Sindh High Court references |
| Lahore | +92 333 1127835 | FBR and PRA matters, Lahore High Court |
| Islamabad | +92 333 1127836 | FBR matters, Islamabad services tax, Islamabad High Court |
| Rawalpindi | +92 333 1127831 | FBR matters and returns for Rawalpindi clients |
Services Offered by Our Tax Lawyers in Pakistan
Registration
NTN, sales tax and provincial service tax registration for individuals, partnerships and companies.
Returns and wealth statements
Annual income tax returns, wealth statements and monthly sales tax returns.
Notices and audits
Written replies, audit preparation and representation before officers.
Appeals
Appeals to the Commissioner (Appeals) and the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue.
High Court work
Tax references and, where appropriate, constitutional petitions.
Transaction advice
Tax effects of property sales, business restructuring and cross-border payments.
How Tax Lawyers in Pakistan Handle Income Tax Notices
Every notice has a legal basis, a deadline and a specific question. We first identify the provision under which it was issued and whether it was properly served. Then we gather the evidence, draft a written reply that answers only what is asked, and file it through IRIS or by hand with an acknowledgement.
Where the notice proposes an addition or penalty, the reply also sets out the legal objections, so they are preserved for any appeal. If an extension is genuinely needed, we apply for it before the deadline, giving reasons.
Sales Tax Registration and Monthly Returns
Manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and certain retailers may need to register for sales tax on goods with the FBR, while service providers may need provincial registration. Registered persons file monthly returns, issue proper tax invoices and claim input tax only within the conditions of the law. Errors in invoices or late returns quickly lead to notices, blocked refunds and penalties.
Tax Lawyers in Pakistan for Property Transactions
Buying or selling property in Pakistan involves federal withholding taxes, possible capital gains tax and provincial duties collected at registration or transfer. Rates differ depending on whether the buyer and seller are on the Active Taxpayers List and how long the property was held, and they change with Finance Acts.
We calculate the expected taxes before the deal is signed, so that the agreement states clearly who pays what. For the legal side of the transfer itself, see our property lawyers.
Companies, Directors and Tax Compliance
A company has its own tax obligations: annual returns based on its financial statements, withholding on payments it makes, sales tax where applicable, and replies to notices. Directors should ensure that these are met, because failures can affect the company's standing with banks, regulators and buyers. We work alongside the company's accountants on the legal aspects of compliance and disputes.
Record-Keeping That Protects You
Most tax disputes are decided on documents. Keep returns, wealth statements, bank statements, invoices, contracts, withholding certificates and every notice and reply for several years, because the law allows past years to be reopened within set time limits. Businesses should keep proper books of account. A well-kept file often allows a notice to be answered in a single reply.
Refund Claims
Refunds of income tax or sales tax are often delayed. A refund claim must be filed within the time allowed and supported by evidence of the tax paid. Where the department does not decide the claim, or rejects it without proper reasons, the order or the delay can be challenged through the remedies provided in the relevant law.
Our Working Method
- You send the notice, order or question on WhatsApp with the city where you operate.
- We identify the authority, the law and the deadline, and tell you what documents are needed.
- A fee is quoted after the documents are reviewed, and agreed before work starts.
- We prepare the reply, return or appeal and share the draft with you.
- We file it, attend hearings where needed and keep you updated after each step.
The Appeal Structure Across Pakistan
Under the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, an order of an officer can be appealed first to the Commissioner Inland Revenue (Appeals), then to the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue, and on questions of law by reference to the High Court of the province concerned. Provincial service tax laws have their own appellate structures. Time limits are strict at every stage.
Multi-Province Businesses
A company headquartered in Karachi that provides services in Lahore and Islamabad may need to register with more than one service-tax authority and allocate its turnover correctly. Disputes between authorities over where a service was rendered are common. Our lawyers review contracts and invoicing so that each authority receives the right return.
Overseas Pakistanis and Non-Residents
Overseas Pakistanis often have rental income, property sales or bank profit in Pakistan. Residential status for the tax year decides what is taxable here. We advise on status, file returns remotely through IRIS and deal with withholding on property transactions, without the client needing to travel.
When to Instruct Tax Lawyers in Pakistan
- When a notice, audit selection or order arrives, before replying.
- Before a large property sale or purchase, to plan the withholding and capital gains position.
- Before starting a service business in a new province.
- When a refund has been pending without response.
- When the department attaches a bank account or starts recovery.
Related Guides
See our guides to FBR income tax return filing in Pakistan, NTN registration in Pakistan and the salaried person tax return. For disputes in Karachi, see tax lawyers in Karachi.
Contact Tax Lawyers in Pakistan Near You
For Karachi, WhatsApp +92 333 1127830 or visit our Gulistan-e-Jauhar or DHA Phase 7 office. For Lahore call +92 333 1127835, for Islamabad +92 333 1127836 and for Rawalpindi +92 333 1127831. Tax Lawyers in Pakistan from our network reply on the same working day.
Frequently asked questions
Is income tax federal or provincial in Pakistan?
Income tax is federal. It is levied under the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 and administered by the Federal Board of Revenue. Agricultural income is a provincial subject, and sales tax on services is collected by provincial authorities. In Islamabad, services are taxed under federal law.
Who collects sales tax on services in Sindh?
The Sindh Revenue Board collects sales tax on services provided in Sindh under the Sindh Sales Tax on Services Act 2011. This is separate from FBR registration and returns, so many Karachi businesses deal with both.
Can one lawyer handle my matters in several cities?
Our network has offices in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. One lawyer coordinates your file, and the local office appears before the officer or forum in that city, so you do not need to travel for routine hearings.
How do I appeal against an income tax order?
File an appeal with the Commissioner Inland Revenue (Appeals) within the time allowed. A further appeal lies to the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue, and questions of law can go to the High Court by reference.
Do overseas Pakistanis need to file returns?
It depends on residential status and Pakistani-source income. Non-residents with rent, property gains or other Pakistani income may need to file. We advise on status and can file remotely through IRIS.
Do I need separate registrations in Punjab and Sindh?
If you provide taxable services in both provinces, registration with each provincial authority may be required. We review where the services are rendered, how contracts and invoices are issued, and advise on the registrations needed.
Can you help with a bank account attachment?
Yes. We check whether the demand was validly created and notices properly served, and whether an appeal or stay application can be filed. Acting quickly matters in recovery cases, because funds can be withdrawn from an attached account within a short time.
What are your fees?
Fees are quoted after the documents are reviewed and depend on the matter and stage. We confirm the fee before starting each stage, such as a reply, an audit or an appeal.
Which number should I call?
Karachi +92 333 1127830, Lahore +92 333 1127835, Islamabad +92 333 1127836 and Rawalpindi +92 333 1127831. All numbers accept WhatsApp messages and documents, and each office replies on the same working day.
Do you guarantee success in tax appeals?
No lawyer can honestly guarantee an outcome. We assess the order, explain the strength of each ground of appeal and advise you whether pursuing an appeal is worthwhile before you decide.
Speak to Karachi Lawyers about Tax Lawyers in Pakistan
Karachi Lawyers has practised since 1985 and has about 17 advocates, including two Advocates Supreme Court. Send a WhatsApp message to +92 333 1127830 with your name, a two-line summary of the matter, any deadline or hearing date, and photos of the key documents. We will tell you what the law requires, which documents are missing and what the next step is, and fix an appointment at our Gulistan-e-Jauhar office (Mezzanine Floor, Muneer Mobile Mall, Block 17) or our DHA office (Mezzanine Floor, Main Jami Commercial, Phase 7). We explain the scope of work before you instruct us, and we never promise an outcome we cannot control.
Related services from Karachi Lawyers
Official sources
For reference only. Procedures and charges change; confirm the current position for your own case.
This page gives general information about the law in Pakistan and is not legal advice for your particular case. No outcome, timeline or fee can be guaranteed before your documents and circumstances have been reviewed.
Reviewed by: Mohsin Ali Shah, Consulting Lawyer (M.A., LL.B.)
Published by: Karachi Lawyers
Last updated: